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Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage

#51

Post by rob74 »

lm28469 wrote: post #31
kubb wrote: post #12

BBC journos have a specific editorial style, and no doubt it influenced this headline, but this isn't to "protect food heritage". Food and drink accounts for a quarter of Italy's GDP. It's about money. Italy has a far-right government, which is extremely open to lobbying from that sector, and "heritage" is aligned with their nationalistic stance. Try to look a bit deeper.

You don't have to be "far right" or "nationalistic" to not want to destroy your economy

Maybe, but luddism and hiding your head in the sand is not the best way to ensure the long term future of your economy. Of course politicians don't have to think about the long term, just until the next election...

Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage

#52

Post by DaveSchmindel »

A family member of mine used to be a buyer for the Italian foods department of a mid-market grocery chain in the US. His merchant for San Marzano tomatoes was a really down-to-earth dude. Occasionally, he would host my family member at his villa(s) in south-central mainland Italy. After just a couple of visits and tours of a few farms, it became clear to my family member that the business model of his supplier was more or less a legal Mafia, and the people at the top had a stranglehold on the farmers. I'm sure that _some sort_ of heritage will be protected with this ban.

Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage

#54

Post by epolanski »

zirgs wrote: post #19
deergomoo wrote: post #13

This seems no different than the ridiculous laws proposed in some US states recently that would ban EV sales to protect the oil and gas industries. I’m sorry that people could one day lose jobs over this, but if lab-grown meat is proven to be a safe and cost/energy/carbon efficient alternative to raising and killing animals, then it would be insane to not pursue that.

Why would EVs threaten oil & gas industry - they contain lots of plastic that is currently made out of oil. Also electricity is still being generated from fossil fuels in many places. And I don't see stuff like diesel generators going away any time soon. Renewables won't help if a hospital loses power.

You can't be serious, it's obvious that EVs curb oil and gas consumption and profits.

Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage

#55

Post by vman81 »

dahfizz wrote: post #41
lm28469 wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't have to be "far right" or "nationalistic" to not want to destroy your economy

Liking your country and not wanting to be poor are bad things nowadays

As with all poisons, it's a question of concentration. Greed and nationalism are bad, in the same way that eating a kg of table salt is bad. That doesn't mean that salt in and of itself is bad.

Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage

#56

Post by JoeAltmaier »

Folks will cry "Protectioninsts!" and "Luddites!" with glee. This issue is a fish in a barrel for simple views.

Maybe it's more complicated. Maybe it's a good idea to put some kind of timeline on upsetting entire industries, overturning whole components of the economy and job market, maybe tap the brakes from time to time.

Just thinking the world economy is maybe complicated, and everybody shouting about ideals mightn't be the best way to adjust this enormous system.

Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage

#58

Post by [deleted] »

kfk wrote: post #34

I was reading somewhere that Poland will overtake Italy in GDP pro capita in 10-20 years. True or not Poland is doing much better than Italy already. I think it’s interesting that a country that was 50 years under a dictatorship was able to take over on a country that has not only had freedom and democracy, but also help and financial support from US and EU. Italy is not hungry for growth and it keeps consuming whate…

[deleted]

Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage

#59

Post by youngNed »

dotsam wrote: post #4

On the topic of food traditions in Italy: 'Everything I, an Italian, thought I knew about Italian food is wrong', in the FT recently - https://archive.is/4gwGh#selection-1454.0-1454.1

this article is what i thought of when i saw this post to HN. I am dying to hear an Italian tell me how controversial this opinion / person is and what conversation is around it/him
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